
Melissa and I will once again be birding Owl By Ourselves this year! We plan to do a Big Day (find as many birds as possible in 24 hours), although we will be the yin to the yang of the other Big Day teams. While they race around Southeast Arizona day and night to rack up amazing bird counts, I plan to sleep in, see around 40 species at a local hotspot, get a few photos, listen to some bird calls, maybe take a nap, and be in bed by 10pm. Ah, what a day! I leave it up to Melissa to decide how she will structure her day.

Yin Bird
Our brains have been overloaded with work, the ongoing threats to our environment, and the overall state of our nation, so we are taking this opportunity to slow down and be more intentional about enjoying the birds, critters, and plants we come across.
We plan to photograph birds and other things we find beautiful or interesting: Google Photos album.
If you want to support our efforts and, more importantly, the mission of Tucson Bird Alliance to inspire people to enjoy and protect birds, please donate to our team!
Thank you for your support!
Erica Freese and Melissa Fratello
Pledges:
PLEDGE (PAY LATER)
DONATE (PAY NOW)
Birdathon is one of Tucson Bird Alliance’s largest fundraisers and has existed for over 35 years! It’s a great way to use our love of bird watching to support Tucson Bird Alliance’s mission to inspire people to enjoy and protect birds.
By donating to one or more Birdathon teams you are ensuring Tucson Bird Alliance's vital work can continue well into the future. Whether it's preserving critical habitats, educating future stewards of the environment, or advocating for bird-friendly policies, your support makes a tangible difference.
Birdathon donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Tucson Bird Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
Join us in making a difference for birds and their habitats by donating or pledging to a Birdathon team today!
Supporting a team by writing a check?
| Supporters | |||
| Name | Date | Amount | Comments |
| Brendan Abby Shean | 05/07/2026 | $100.00 | Melissa Fratello | 05/05/2026 | $500.00 | Marleigh Fletcher | 05/04/2026 | $155.30 | Erica & Mellisa - I am in Herp Heaven- you really delivered!!! | Peter Kramer | 05/04/2026 | $26.19 | Steven Prager | 05/04/2026 | $181.13 | Amazing job as always to the team! | Heather Bentz | 04/23/2026 | $206.95 | Bird on! | Leslie Jan Cohen | 04/23/2026 | $250.00 | Have fun, hope you hear and see a lot! | Simrit Khalsa | 04/22/2026 | $20.00 | Jean & Mark Hengesbaugh | 04/18/2026 | $52.01 | Anonymous Friend | 04/15/2026 | $156.93 | Hope you have a real hoot! | Brooke Sanders | 04/06/2026 | $52.01 | Happy to support something so close to your heart—cheering you on as you help our feathered friends thrive! | Ethan Myerson | 04/06/2026 | $25.00 | I hope you see all the birds! :) | Melodee L. Thorwegen | 04/04/2026 | $155.30 | Good luck with your 2026 Birdathon! | Yongson Rueb | 03/26/2026 | $52.01 | GO, Erica!! GO, Tucson Bird Alliance!! | Ase Carlson | 03/25/2026 | $41.68 | Go Erica! Hope you don't get pooped on! Or maybe I do lol | Kelly Ratliff | 03/25/2026 | $15.86 | Helen Cole | 03/24/2026 | $20.00 | In honor of the first pileated wood pecker of the season seen this weekend. | Heidi Hoscheidt-Sandman | 03/24/2026 | $41.68 | We are really excited to donate to such a wonderful cause! Our family grew up appreciating birds and now as an adult I love and appreciate them even more. I owe it to my mother, who had an aviary when we were young and taught us to appreciate creatures. | David Ostermann | 03/24/2026 | $150.00 | Hi Erica | Ana Woodmansee | 03/24/2026 | $21.02 | Marleigh Fletcher | 03/24/2026 | $129.48 | Love your photos Owl by Ourselves team! Have the best Birdathon ever and check out my Herp challenge. Good insect photos are also appreciated. Marleigh |
| Total | $2,352.55 | ||